Water Supply For more than thirty years San Francisco has been endeavoring to obtain an adequate supply of water under its ownership and control. More real progress has been made in this direction during the past year and a half than during all the years preceding. In May, 1908, the United States Government, through the Department of the Interior, granted rights of way for reservoir sites in Hetch Hetchy Valley and at Lake Eleanor, and at these localities storage facilities exist for enough water to supply the City during the next century. In November, 1908, the grant was ratified by an overwhelming vote of the people and at the same time bonds were authorized to the amount of $600,000 for the purchase of lands and for making the necessary plans for more extensive construction. During the past six months all the land in private ownership in Hetch Hetchy Valley has been purchased and condemnation suits are pending for the acquisition of lands about Lake Eleanor. Parties of surveyors have been working during the summer running lines for the necessary diverting canals and making studies of the dam sites and other works. |